Oakum - Obfuscate

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Oakum (ōkŭm), n. [AS. ācumba; pref. ā- (cf. G. er-, Goth. us-, orig. meaning, out) + cemban to comb, camb comb. See .] 1. The material obtained by untwisting and picking into loose fiber old hemp ropes; -- used for calking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, etc.
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2. The coarse portion separated from flax or hemp in nackling. Knight.
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Coloq. White oakum , that made from untarred rope.
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Oaky (ōk�), n. Resembling oak; strong. Bp. Hall.
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Oar (ōr), n [AS. ār; akin to Icel. ār, Dan. aare, Sw. åra; perh. akin to E. row, v. Cf. .]
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1. An implement for impelling a boat, being a slender piece of timber, usually ash or spruce, with a grip or handle at one end and a broad blade at the other. The part which rests in the rowlock is called the loom.
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☞ An oar is a kind of long paddle, which swings about a kind of fulcrum, called a rowlock, fixed to the side of the boat.
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2. An oarsman; a rower; as, he is a good oar.
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3. (Zoöl.) An oarlike swimming organ of various invertebrates.
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Coloq. Oar cock (Zoöl.), the water rail. [Prov. Eng.] -- Coloq. Spoon oar , an oar having the blade so curved as to afford a better hold upon the water in rowing. -- Coloq. To boat the oars , to cease rowing, and lay the oars in the boat. -- Coloq. To feather the oars . See under ., v. t. -- Coloq. To lie on the oars , to cease pulling, raising the oars out of water, but not boating them; to cease from work of any kind; to be idle; to rest. -- Coloq. To muffle the oars , to put something round that part which rests in the rowlock, to prevent noise in rowing. -- Coloq. To put in one's oar , to give aid or advice; -- commonly used of a person who obtrudes aid or counsel not invited. -- Coloq. To ship the oars , to place them in the rowlocks. -- Coloq. To toss the oars , To peak the oars, to lift them from the rowlocks and hold them perpendicularly, the handle resting on the bottom of the boat. -- Coloq. To trail oars , to allow them to trail in the water alongside of the boat. -- Coloq. To unship the oars , to take them out of the rowlocks.
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Oar, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Oared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Oaring.] To row. “Oared himself.” Shak.
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Oared with laboring arms. Pope.
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Oared (ōrd), a. 1. Furnished with oars; -- chiefly used in composition; as, a four-oared boat.
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2. (Zoöl.) (a) Having feet adapted for swimming. (b) Totipalmate; -- said of the feet of certain birds. See Illust. of .
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Coloq. Oared shrew (Zoöl.), an aquatic European shrew (Crossopus ciliatus); -- called also black water shrew.
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Oarfish (ōrfĭsh), n. (Zoöl.) The ribbon fish.
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Oarfoot (ōrf�t), n. (Zoöl.) Any crustacean of the genus Remipes.
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Oar-footed a. Having feet adapted for swimming.
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Oarless, a. Without oars. Sylvester.
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Oarlock (ōrlŏk), n. (Naut.), The notch, fork, or other device on the gunwale of a boat, in which the oar rests, and that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing. Certain oarlocks are designed for use with oars having attached swivels, which insert into the oarlock and provide a firm pivot. Same as {1}.
Syn. -- peg, pin, thole, tholepin, rowlock.
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Oarsman (ōrzm�n), n.; pl. Oarsmen (-m�n). One who uses, or is skilled in the use of, an oar; a rower.
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At the prow of the boat, rose one of the oarsmen. Longfellow.
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oarsmanship n. skill as an oarsman.
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Oarsweed (ōrwēd), n. (Bot.) Any large seaweed of the genus Laminaria; tangle; kelp. See .
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oarswoman n. a woman oarsman.
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Oary (ōr�), a. Having the form or the use of an oar; as, the swan's oary feet. Milton. Addison.
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OAS n. The Organization of American States an international association of countries in the Western hemisphere. It was created in 1948 to promote military and economic and social and cultural cooperation. [acronym]
Syn. -- Organization of American States.
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Oasis (ōȧsĭs or �āsĭs; 277), n.; pl. Oases (-sēz). [L., fr. Gr. 'oasis; cf. Copt. ouahe.] A fertile or green spot in a waste or desert, esp. in a sandy desert, where the water table approaches the surface. [wns=1] “The Arab does not love the desert; the Arab loves the oasis and green fields.”
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2. Hence: (fig.) Any refuge from a prevailing stressful, unpleasant, or annoying situation. [wns=2 & 3]
Syn. -- haven.
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My one oasis in the dust and drouth
Of city life. Tennyson.
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Oast (ōst), n. [OE. ost, AS. āst; cf. Gr. a'i^qos burning heat.] A kiln to dry hops or malt; a cockle. Mortimer.
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Oat (ōt), n.; pl. Oats (ōts). [OE. ote, ate, AS. āta, akin to Fries. oat. Of uncertain origin.] 1. (Bot.) A well-known cereal grass (Avena sativa), and its edible grain, used as food and fodder; -- commonly used in the plural and in a collective sense.
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2. A musical pipe made of oat straw. [Obs.] Milton.
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Coloq. Animated oats or Coloq. Animal oats (Bot.), A grass (Avena sterilis) much like oats, but with a long spirally twisted awn which coils and uncoils with changes of moisture, and thus gives the grains an apparently automatic motion. -- Coloq. Oat fowl (Zoöl.), the snow bunting; -- so called from its feeding on oats. [Prov. Eng.] -- Coloq. Oat grass (Bot.), the name of several grasses more or less resembling oats, as Danthonia spicata, Danthonia sericea, and Arrhenatherum avenaceum, all common in parts of the United States. -- Coloq. To feel one's oats , (a) to be conceited or self-important. [Slang] (b) to feel lively and energetic. -- Coloq. To sow one's wild oats , to indulge in youthful dissipation. Thackeray. -- Coloq. Wild oats (Bot.), a grass (Avena fatua) much resembling oats, and by some persons supposed to be the original of cultivated oats.
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Oatcake (?), n. A cake made of oatmeal.
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Oaten (?), a. 1. Consisting of an oat straw or stem; as, an oaten pipe. Milton.
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2. Made of oatmeal; as, oaten cakes.
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Oath (ōth), n.; pl. Oaths (ō�z). [OE. othe, oth, ath, AS. āð; akin to D. eed, OS. ēð, G. eid, Icel. eiðr, Sw. ed, Dan. eed, Goth. aiþs; cf. OIr. oeth.] 1. A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with a reverent appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed. “I have an oath in heaven” Shak.
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An oath of secrecy for the concealing of those [inventions] which we think fit to keep secret. Bacon.
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2. A solemn affirmation, connected with a sacred object, or one regarded as sacred, as the temple, the altar, the blood of Abel, the Bible, the Koran, etc.
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3. (Law) An appeal (in verification of a statement made) to a superior sanction, in such a form as exposes the party making the appeal to an indictment for perjury if the statement be false.
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4. A careless and blasphemous use of the name of the divine Being, or anything divine or sacred, by way of appeal or as a profane exclamation or ejaculation; an expression of profane swearing. “A terrible oath” Shak.
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Oathable (?), a. Capable of having an oath administered to. [Obs.] Shak.
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Oathbreaking (?), n. The violation of an oath; perjury. Shak
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Oatmeal (?), n. 1. Meal made of oats. Gay.
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2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Panicum; panic grass.
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Ob- (?). [L. ob, prep. Cf. .] A prefix signifying to, toward, before, against, reversely, etc.; also, as a simple intensive; as in oblige, to bind to; obstacle, something standing before; object, lit., to throw against; obovate, reversely, or oppositely, ovate. Ob- is commonly assimilated before c, f, g, and p, to oc-, of-, og-, and op-.
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Obcompressed (?). a. [Pref. ob- + compressed.] Compressed or flattened antero-posteriorly, or in a way opposite to the usual one.
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{ Obconic (?), Obconical (?), } a. [Pref. ob- + conic, conical.] Conical, but having the apex downward; inversely conical.
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Obcordate (?), a. [Pref. ob- + cordate.] Heart-shaped, with the attachment at the pointed end; inversely cordate; as, an obcordate petal or leaf.
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Obdiplostemonous (?), a. [Pref. ob- + diplostemonous.] (Bot.) Having twice as many stamens as petals, those of the outer set being opposite the petals; -- said of flowers. Gray.
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Obdiplostemony (?), n. (Bot.) The condition of being obdiplostemonous.
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Obdormition (?), n. [L. obdormire to fall asleep.] Sleep. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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Obduce (?), v. t. [L. obducere, obductum; ob (see Ob-) + ducere to lead.] To draw over, as a covering. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
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Obduct (�), v. t. [See .] To draw over; to cover. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Obduction (?), n. [L. obductio.] The act of drawing or laying over, as a covering. [Obs.]
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Obduracy (?), n. The duality or state of being obdurate; invincible hardness of heart; obstinacy. “Obduracy and persistency.” Shak.
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The absolute completion of sin in final obduracy. South.
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Obdurate (?), a. [L. obduratus, p. p. of obdurare to harden; ob (see Ob-)+ durare to harden, durus hard. See .] 1. Hardened in feelings, esp. against moral or mollifying influences; unyielding; hard-hearted; stubbornly wicked.
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The very custom of evil makes the heart obdurate against whatsoever instructions to the contrary. Hooker.
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Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel,
Nay, more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth? Shak.
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2. Hard; harsh; rugged; rough; intractable. “Obdurate consonants.” Swift.
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☞ Sometimes accented on the second syllable, especially by the older poets.
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There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart. Cowper.
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Syn. -- Hard; firm; unbending; inflexible; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; impenitent; callous; unfeeling; insensible; unsusceptible. -- , , . Callous denotes a deadening of the sensibilities; as, a callous conscience. Hardened implies a general and settled disregard for the claims of interest, duty, and sympathy; as, hardened in vice. Obdurate implies an active resistance of the heart and will aganst the pleadings of compassion and humanity.
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-- Obdurately (#), adv. -- Obdurateness, n.
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Obdurate (?), v. t. To harden. [Obs.]
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Obduration (?), n. [L. obduratio.] A hardening of the heart; hardness of heart. [Obs.]
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Obdure (ŏbdūr), v. t. To harden. [Obs.] Milton.
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{ Obdure (ŏbdūr), Obdured (ŏbdūr), } a. Obdurate; hard. [Obs.]
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This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured. Milton.
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{ Obdureness, n., Obduredness (?), n.} Hardness. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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Obe (ōb�), n. See .
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Obeah (?). n. Same as . -- a. Of or pertaining to obi; as, the obeah man. B. Edwards.
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obechi n. A large Western African tree (Triplochiton scleroxcylon) having large palmately lobed leaves and axillary cymose panicles of small white flowers and one-winged seeds; it yields soft white to pale yellow wood.
Syn. -- obeche, arere, samba, Triplochiton scleroxcylon.
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Obedible (?), a. Obedient. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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Obedience (?), n. [F. obédience, L. obedientia, oboedientia. See , and cf. .] 1. The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control.
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Government must compel the obedience of individuals. Ames.
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2. Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness. Shak.
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3. (Eccl.) (a) A following; a body of adherents; as, the Roman Catholic obedience, or the whole body of persons who submit to the authority of the pope. (b) A cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior. (c) One of the three monastic vows. Shipley. (d) The written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject.
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Coloq. Canonical obedience . See under . -- Coloq. Passive obedience . See under .
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Obedienciary (?), n. One yielding obedience. [Obs.] Foxe.
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Obedient (?), a. [OF. obedient, L. obediens, oboediens, -entis. p. pr. of obedire, oboedire, to obey. See .] Subject in will or act to authority; willing to obey; submissive to restraint, control, or command.
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And floating straight, obedient to the stream. Shak.
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The chief his orders gives; the obedient band,
With due observance, wait the chief's command. Pope.
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Syn. -- Dutiful; respectful; compliant; submissive.
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Obediential (?), a. [Cf. F. obédientiel.] According to the rule of obedience. [R.]
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An obediental subjection to the Lord of Nature. Sir M. Hale.
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Obediently (?), adv. In an obedient manner; with obedience.
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Obeisance (?), n. [F. obéissance obedience, fr. obéissant. See , and cf. , .] 1. Obedience. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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2. Deference or homage, or an expression of deference or respect; a bow; a curtsy.
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Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance unto the king. 1 Kings i. 16.
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Obeisancy (?), n. See . [Obs.]
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Obeisant (?), a. [F. obéissant, p. pr. of obéir to obey.] Ready to obey; reverent; deferential; also, servilely submissive.
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Obelion (?), n. [NL., from Gr. 'obelos a spit.] (Anat.) The region of the skull between the two parietal foramina where the closure of the sagittal suture usually begins.
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Obeliscal (?), a. Formed like an obelisk.
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obelisk (ŏbĕlĭsk), n. [L. obeliscus, Gr. 'obeliskos, dim. of 'obelos a spit, a pointed pillar: cf. F. obélisque.] 1. An upright, four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it rises, and terminating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom.
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2. (Print.) A mark of reference; -- called also dagger [†]. See , n., 2.
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Obelisk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obelisked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Obelisking.] To mark or designate with an obelisk.
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Obelize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obelized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Obelizing (?).] [Gr. 'obelizein, fr. 'obelos. See .] To designate with an obelus; to mark as doubtful or spirituous. [R.]
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Obelus (?), n.; pl. Obeli (#). [L., fr. Gr. 'obelos, prop., a spit.] (Print.) A mark [thus —, or ÷]; -- so called as resembling a needle. In old MSS. or editions of the classics, it marks suspected passages or readings.
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Obequitate (?), v. i. [L. obequitatus, p. p. of obequitare to ride about.] To ride about. [Obs.] -- Obequitation (#), n. [Obs.] Cockerman.
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Oberon (ŏbẽrŏn), prop. n. [F., fr. OF. Auberon; prob. of Frankish origin.] (Mediæval Mythol.) The king of the fairies, and husband of Titania or Queen Mab. Shak.
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Oberration (?), n. [L. oberrate to wander about.] A wandering about. [Obs.] Jonhson.
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Obese (?). a. [L. obesus eaten away, lean; also, that has eaten itself fat, fat, stout, p. p. of obedere to devour; ob (see ) + edere to eat. See .] Excessively corpulent; fat; fleshy.
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Obeseness, n. Quality of being obese; obesity.
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obesity (?), n.[L. obesitas: cf. F. obésité.] The state or quality of being obese; excessive body weight; incumbrance of flesh.
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Obey (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obeyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Obeying.] [OE. obeyen, F. obéir, fr. L. obedire, oboedire; ob (see Ob-) + audire to hear. See , and cf. .] 1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of.
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Children, obey your parents in the Lord. Eph. vi. 1.
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Was she the God, that her thou didst obey? Milton.
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2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by.
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My will obeyed his will. Chaucer.
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Afric and India shall his power obey. Dryden.
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3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.
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Obey, v. i. To give obedience.
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Will he obey when one commands? Tennyson.
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☞ By some old writers obey was used, as in the French idiom, with the preposition to.
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His servants ye are, to whom ye obey. Rom. vi. 16.
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He commanded the trumpets to sound: to which the two brave knights obeying, they performed their courses. Sir. P. Sidney.
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Obeyer (?), n. One who yields obedience. Holland.
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Obeyingly, adv. Obediently; submissively.
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{ Obfirm (?), Obfirmate (?), } v. t. [L. obfirmatus, p. p. of obfirmare to make steadfast. See , and , v. t.] To make firm; to harden in resolution. [Obs.] Bp. Hall. Sheldon.
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Obfirmation (?), n. [LL. obfirmatio.] Hardness of heart; obduracy. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
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Obfuscate (?), a. [L. obfuscatus, p. p. of obfuscare to darken; ob (see ) + fuscare, fuscatum, to darken, from fuscus dark.] Obfuscated; darkened; obscured. [Obs.] [Written also offuscate.] Sir. T. Elyot.
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Obfuscate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obfuscated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Obfuscating.] 1. To darken; to obscure; to becloud.
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2. Hence: To confuse; to bewilder; to make unclear.
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His head, like a smokejack, the funnel unswept, and the ideas whirling round and round about in it, all obfuscated and darkened over with fuliginous matter. Sterne.
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Clouds of passion which might obfuscate the intellects of meaner females. Sir. W. Scott.
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